Shuttle box for automatic looms



NOV-"18, 1941- 1a.y w.BRouwER SHUTTLE BOX FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Filed March 3, 1941 FILL! IN ve- N'roa BENJAM \N W BRouwEva AT1-ORN EY Patented Nov. 18, 1941 SHUTTLE BOX FOR AUTOMATIC LOOMS Benjamin W. Brouwer, Worcester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 3, 1941, Serial No. 381,466

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined shuttle box and bobbin chute for automatic looms more particularly of the type used for weaving pick and pick fabrics.

In the lautomatic weaving of pick and pick fabrics it is customary to employ several weaving shuttles which follow each other in a deiinite rotation and arrive periodically in a shuttle box which is raised to replenishing position. At the magazine end of the loom two shuttle boxes are sufiicient for pick and pick weaving, and the discharged bobbin passes down through both boxes to .a bobbin can. A bobbin chute is needed to direct the bobbins toward the can and it is necessary to transmit a lifting force from Va box lifter rod to the shuttle boxes. It is an important obv `loom. Under the rst condition the shuttle boxes are held permanently in low position with respect to the lay, but in the pick and pick arrangement the boxes shift toward the magazine for a replenishing operation. It is a further object of my present invention to provide a bobbin chute secured to and movable vertically with the boxes to be in position to direct an outgoing bobbin toward the bobbin can Whether transfer occurs when the boxes are either in high or low position relatively to the lay.

In a form of convertible loom which has come into use recently -a box operating lifter rod moved toY a plurality of vertically spaced positions is connected either to a two cell or a four cell gang of shuttle boxes, dependinguponwhether theloom loperates pick and pick filling `mixing automatic ory non-automatically with ve or more shuttles. When weaving automatically a bobbin chute for the outgoing exhausted bobbin is needed but no `chute is necessary vwith the non-automatic setting. It is another object of my invention to proportion the chute so that the same lifter rod can be used either with the automatic or nonautomatic setting of the loom.

It is customary in loom construction to pitch the shuttle box downwardly and inwardly with respect to the lay to insure proper travel ofthe ject of my invention to secure the bobbin chute lformed on the box structure.

warp shed. It is `a further object of my present invention to provide a bobbin chute rigidly connected to the box lifter rod and formed with means for adjusting the angular position of the shuttle boxes relatively to the bobbin chute.

With these and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds,` my invention `resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the end of a loom having my invention applied thereto and showing the boxes in high position to receive a reserve bobbin when Weaving automatic pick and pick,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a portion of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of chute so 'constructed as to permit the same box lifter rod to be vused either with the chute or with a four-cell gang of shuttle boxes.

Referring to the drawing, the loom frame I Il may be of usual construction, and supports a lay II provided with inner and outer box guides I2 and I3, respectively, which are grooved as suggested in Fig. 1 to receive tongues I4 on .a gang G of shuttle boxes which in the preferred form of the invention comprises two vertically aligned cells I5 and I6. The gang G comprises a back plate 2U from which extend forwardly top 2I and oor 22 for the upper cell I5 and also ya second floor 23 for the lower cell I6. The lay has extending therefrom a lay end 25 through the lower portion of which extends a box lifter rod 26.

Each of the cells I5 and I6 is provided With a shuttle binder pivoted on .a binder pin 3I extending through forwardly projecting lugs 32 Binder springs 33 of usual construction are also provided and urge the binders rearwardly. A guide pin 34 extending through lugs 35 corresponding to lug 32 restrains forward motion of the inner or left ends of the binders, as viewed in Fig. 1.

The box gang G is adapted for use in an automatic loom having weft replenishing mechanism `designated generally at R and comprising a transferrer arm pivoted as at 4I tothe magazine frame 42 v and having a latch 43 whichvis raised from normal down to transfer position by means of a rod 44. The weft replenishing mechanism provides reserve bobbins one of which B is indi- 4shuttle along a shuttle race and through the 55 cated in Fig. 2 on the supports 45 on which the bobbin rests when in transfer position.

During normal loom operation the gang G will rise and fall with respect to the lay so that oor 22 of cell I5 will be aligned with the shuttle race 48 when the boxes are down, whereas floor 23 of cell I6 will be aligned with the shuttle race when the boxes are up. These vertical motions are caused by the box lifter rod which may be operated by any approved form of shuttle box mechanism not shown but operating through a chain 49 to lift the rod 25 when the cells are to be raised. The chain is trained around a pulley 50 rotatable on a stud 5I mounted on stand 52 bolted to the under side of the lay end 25. A bobbin can C of usual construction is provided for receiving the outgoing bobbins.

Mechanism not shown herein but well understood will initiate a transferring operation when the shuttle S in the top box I5 is depleted of weft, after which the transierrer arm 40 will descend to insert the reserve bobbin B into the shuttle by engagement of the latch 43 which is raised for the purpose with a bunter 55 carried by the shuttle box structure, and Iat the-same time force the exhausted bobbin B downwardly through cell I6.

The matter thus far described is of common construction in automatic pick and pick filling mixing looms and operates in the usual manner. The cells I5 and I6 rise and fall according to any predetermined pattern which is usually such that cell I5 will be in active position aligned with the shuttle race for two picks and then will rise for two picks to inactive position to permit alignment of cell I6 with the shuttle race for the next two picks.

`In carrying the preferred form of my present invention into eiTect I provide a bobbin chute 6|] for communicating motion from the box lifter rod 26 to the gang G. The chute is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined web 6I from the sides of which project forwardly guide wings 62. The chute has at the upper corners thereof inner and outer lateral extensions 63 and 84, respectively, which extend in front of lugs G5 and 65, respectively, depending from the '..bottom 23 of the lower cell I6 and formed preferably as an extension of the back of the gang G. Bolts 61 extend through the corresponding lugs and extensions to secure the bobbin chute to the shuttle box structure as shown more particularly in Fig. 3.

Projecting rearwardly from web 6I is a lug I0 into which is threaded the upper end 'II of the kbox lifter rod 26, and a nut 'I2 may be employed to prevent relative turning of the box lifter rod and bobbin chute. As the lifter rod rises a force is transmitted through the bobbin chute to the boxes to shift the latter relatively to the lay and toward transfer position.

The extensions 63 and 64 have upwardly extending ribs 'I5 on which rest the adjacent parts of the floor 23 of the lower cell I5. These ribs can be led orotherwise altered to permit an adjustment of the boxes with respect to the chute and box lifter rod for the purpose of inclining the boxes downwardly and toward the center of the loom. The bolts 5l hold the chute tightly in adjusted position with respect to the shuttle boxes.

In the operation of the preferred form of my inventionthe gang G will be raised by a force In the vertical shiftings of the boxes the rod, the chute,

and the boxes move as a unit. At the time of a replenishing operation the depleted bobbin B in shuttle S will be forced downwardly through the shuttle box I6, which will be empty at the time, and will then pass on to the bobbin chute and be guided by it along a discharge path to the can C. By reason of the construction already described the box lifter rod is below the bobbin chute and therefore out of the path of the outgoing depleted bobbin. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the boxes raised the bottom of the chute will be spaced above the lower end of the lay end 25 but will nevertheless be positioned properly to guide a bobbin into the can C. Should the loom be used for ordinary automatic weaving with diverse wefts the boxes will be permanently in low position and the lower part of the bobbin chute will lie close to the bottom of the lay end, extending forwardly far enough to direct the outgoing bobbin along a path which extends in front of the chain 49 and its guide sheave 50.

In the modied form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 I make provision for using the same box lifter rod for connection either to a bobbin chute when the loom is set for filling mixing automatic weaving or to a four-cell gang of boxes when weaving non-automatic with ve or more shuttles. The upper pair of cells shown in full lines in Fig. 4 are the same as those already described and will be connected to the modied chute by means of bolts 8|. The chute, however, has a rearwardly extending lug 82 lower than the corresponding lug in the preferred form.

In Fig. 4 the lower cells 85 and 86 of a fourcell gang are shown in dotted lines with a boss 81 depending from the bottom or floor 88 of the bottom cell. Lug 82 is at substantially the same level as boss 8l, hence the lifter rod 90 can be threaded either into the boss 87 of the four-cell gang or into 82, depending upon which setting of the loom is used. In this way conversion can be made from pick and pick automatic lling mixing to non-automatic weaving merely by disconnecting the chute 8B from the lifter rod 90 and attaching the latter to the bottom of the four-cell gang.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple construction wherein the bobbin chute is connected to the box lifter rod and also the shuttle boxes to transmit a lifting force from the rod to the boxes. It will also be seen that provision is made for inclining the shuttle boxes with respect to the shuttle race 48, as by the ribs T5. Furthermore, the bobbin chute can be used whether the loom is weaving automatic pick and pick filling mixing or with diverse wefts, being located in either setting of the loom to direct the bobbin along a discharge path which extends in front of those parts of the box operating mechanism, such as the lifter rod, chain and sheave. It will also be seen in the modified form of the invention that the connection between the box lifter rod and the chute is at such a level that the same rod can be used either when weaving automatic filling mixing or with diverse wefts.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a weft replenishing loom, shifting shuttle boxes through which the exhausted bobbin moves incident lto a replenishing operation of the loom, a bobbin guiding chute secured to and. projecting downwardly from the shuttle boxes to determine the path of the exhausted bobbin, and a box lifter rod secured to the under side of the chute below said path of the exhausted bobbin, the chute transmitting a lifting force `from the lifter rod to the shuttle boxes to shift said shuttle boxes.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay, shifting shuttle boxes on the lay through which the exhausted bobbin moves incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a bobbin guiding chute below the shuttle boxes and having a downwardly and forwardly deflected bobbin guiding web which guides the exhausted bobbin along a given path, means to secure said chute to the shuttle boxes to cause the latter and the chute to move as a unit, and a box lifter rod secured to the web on the under side thereof below said path of the exhausted bobbin, said chute transmitting a lifting force from the lifter rod to the shuttle boxes when the latter shift with respect to the lay.

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay, shifting shuttle boxes on the lay through which the exhausted bo-bbin moves incident to a replenishing operation of the loom, a bobbin guiding chute under the shuttle boxes and having a web which extends downwardly and forwardly from a point adjacent the rear of the shuttle boxes to guide the exhausted bobbin along a given path, and a box lifter rod secured to the under side of the web and located below said path of the exhausted bobbin, the chute transmitting a lifting force from the lifter rod to the boxes to move the latter relatively to the lay.

4. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and replenishing mechanism, a gang of shuttle boxes which move toward the replenishing mechanism for a replenishing operation, the exhausted bobbin passing downwardly through the gang incident to a replenishing operation, a bobbin guiding chute secured to the under side of the gang of boxes and having a forwardly and downwardly extending web to guide a bobbin along a discharging path, and a box lifter rod secured to the chute and located entirely below the discharging path, the chute transmitting a lifting force from the lifter rod to the gang of shuttle boxes to move the latter toward replenishing position.

5. A 'combined shuttle box and bobbin chute unit for a weft replenishing loom, said unit comprising a shuttle box structure, a bobbin guiding chute secured thereto and extending downwardly therefrom, and a box lifter rod secured to the under side of the bobbin chute.

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and replenishing mechanism, a gang of shuttle boxes movable toward the replenishing mechanism for a replenshing operation, the exhausted bobbin passing downwardly through the gang incident to a replenishing operation, a bobbin guiding chute located under the gang of boxes, a box lifter rod secured to and depending from the chute, and means to secure the bobbin chute to the gang of shuttle boxes and provide for varying the angular relation of the gang of shuttle boxes with respect to the chute and box lifter rod, said chute transmitting lifting force from the rod to the gang of boxes to move the latter toward replenishing position.

'7. In a weft replenishing loom having a lay and replenishing mechanism, a gang of shuttle boxes movable toward the replenishing mechanism for a replenishng operation, the exhausted bobbin passing downwardly through the gang incident to a replenishing operation, a bobbin guiding chute beneath the gang of shuttle boxes having supporting ribs on the upper portion thereof on which the boxes rest, means to secure the chute to the gang of shuttle boxes, and a box lifter rod secured to and extending downwardly from the chute, the latter transmitting a lifting force from the lifter rod to the gang of boxes and the ribs providing means for varying the angular relation of the boxes with respect to the chute and rod in the plane in which the boxes move toward rep-lenishing position.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having a reserve bobbin magazine and a lay thereunder, said lay capable of supporting either a shuttle box gang having a single pair of vertically aligned box cells which are movable toward the magazine for a replenishing operation of the loom or a shuttle box gang having two pairs of vertically aligned box cells, a bobbin chute secured to the gang having the single pair of cells and having a downwardly and forwardly extending bobbin guiding web, a box lifter rod depending from the chute and capable of attachment Ato the gang having two pairs of cells, and means to secure the box lifter rod to the chute at a point below the bottom of said pair of cells such that the distance from said point to the pair of cells is substantially equal to the vertical height of the two cells, the vertical dimensions of the cells in both gangs being substantially the same, whereby the same box lifter rod may be used for attachment to the gang with a single pair of box cells or to the gang having two pairs of cells.

BENJAMIN W. BROUWER. 

